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Then it burst from Guste, in spite of herself: "If you only knew. It is that which I cannot pardon in him, that everything was indifferent to him, even my money!"

Diederich was staggered. "One shouldn't have anything to do with such people," he said primly. "They have no backbone, and are as slippery as eels." He shook his head impressively. "The person who is indifferent to money does not understand life."

She gave a feeble laugh. "In that case, you understand it wonderfully."

"Let us hope so," he replied. She came closer to him and smiled at him through her tears.

"Well, you have been right all along. What am I to do now?" She turned down the corners of her mouth. "Anyway, I never loved him. I was only waiting for an opportunity to get rid of him. Now he shows what a cad he is by going off himself! &hellip; Let us get on without him," she added with an alluring glance. But Diederich merely took back his handkerchief, and seemed to have no wish for anything more.

"You are no doubt referring to the position in which I have been placed."

He declined to be drawn. "I did not say anything." Guste complained softly: "If people say dreadful things about me I cannot help it."

"Neither can I."

Guste bowed her head "Ah, yes, I suppose I shall have to give in. A person like me does not deserve to be taken by a really fine man with a serious view of life." As she said this she peeped at him from under her eyelashes to see the effect. Diederich snorted. "It is possible—" He began and he stopped. Guste held her breath. "Let us suppose," he said with sharp emphasis, "that some one, on the contrary, takes a most earnest view of life, sees things in a large modern fashion, is as fully conscious of his responsibilities to himself and his future children as to his King and country, and undertakes